Salvia plant named ‘Purple and Bloom’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘Purple &amp; Bloom’, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Salvia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Purple & Bloom’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant botanically known as Salvia hybrid and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Purple & Bloom’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, theNetherlands during August 2014. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Salvia cultivars having large flowers withattraction coloration, dark green-colored foliage, and a vigorous,highly branched, upright growth habit.

The new Salvia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is Vista Red & White ‘PAS3287’, notpatented, characterized by its red and white bicolored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact,columnar-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is ‘Blue Enigma’, not patented, characterized by its deepblue-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, uprightgrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring March 2015 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMarch 2015 in Hem, the Netherlands and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Purple & Bloom’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Dark violet-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having dark violet-colored flowers and a more vigorousgrowth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the maleparent primarily in having dark violet-colored flowers and a shorter,more branched growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Salvia cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is the male parent Black & Bloom, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 27,183. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Black & Bloom’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have flowers with less blue        coloration than plants of ‘Black & Bloom’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored bracts than        plants of ‘Black & Bloom’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Purple &Bloom’. The plants were approximately 3.5 months old and grown in 6-inchpots for approximately 8 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.Plants were given one pinch 3 weeks after sticking.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Purple & Bloom’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Purple &Bloom’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately4-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Plants were given one pinch 3 weeks after sticking. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C.to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrid ‘Purple & Bloom’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Vista Red & White ‘PAS3287’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—‘Blue Enigma’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fibrous, brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright            growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 52.0 cm. Width: Approximately 59.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral            branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 2            main basal branches and approximately 14 lateral branches.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 31.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 8.0 cm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color            of young and mature stems: 146A with an overlay of N186B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form:            Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular angle to stem. Shape:            Ovate to deltoid. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate to slightly oblique. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 14.0 cm. Width of            mature leaf: Approximately 9.5 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Rugose, sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface:            Rugose, densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 137A with 139A and venation of 147B. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to NN137D with venation of            146C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A with            139A and venation of 147B. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: Closest to NN137D with venation of 146C, midvein            has a heavy overlay of N186C nearest petiole attachment            fading at midpoint toward apex.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color:            146A with a heavy overlay of N186B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Purple & Bloom’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 4 to 5 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Spikes in verticillaster            arrangement, florets in clusters of five, not persistent.            Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 10.            Fragrance: Faint, sweet. Length or height of inflorescence:            Approximately 24.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately            9.5 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 14.        -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Color: N186B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: Calyx of N92A and            petals of N92C.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, lower lip having three lobes,            base fused. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm. Length:            Approximately 3.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.6 cm.        -   Upper lip.—Shape: Hooded. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.            Length from throat: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of            inner surface when first and fully open: 86B. Color of outer            surface when first and fully open: 86A with N87A.        -   Lower lip.—Shape of central lobes: Oblong. Margin: Entire.            Apex of central lobe: Emarginate. Apex of lateral lobes:            Rounded. Length from throat of central lobe: Approximately            1.7 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length            from throat of lateral lobes: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width of            lateral lobes: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            86A and N87A with two central patches of NN155D near throat            opening. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            86B.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at            opening: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of inner surface when first and fully open:            N87D with base of NN155D. Color of outer surface when first            and fully open: 86A and N87A with base of NN155D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Fused into two lobes. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Upper lobe acute, lower lobe notched. Length:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of lobes: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Moderately pubescent.            Color of inner surface: 146D with tips of N92A. Color of            outer surface: 146A with a heavy overlay of N186A and N92A.        -   Bracts.—Quantity: One bract located at the base of floret            cluster. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Length:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture            of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface:            Moderately pubescent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with an            overlay of 86B and tips of N92A. Color of outer surface: 86B            and tips of N92A.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute            angle. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146B with a heavy            overlay of N186B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower, dorsifixed, strongly curved. Stamen length:            Approximately 2.4 cm. Filament length: Approximately 2.0.            Filament color: NN155D with lower half of 86A and N92A.            Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Anther color: N92C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower, slightly            curved. Pistil length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Stigma shape:            Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length: 4.0 mm. Stigma color: 86A.            Style length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Style color: NN155D with            an overlay of 86B near stigma. Style texture: One            longitudinal line of hairs colored 86B. Ovary length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 18D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Salvia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘Purple & Bloom’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.